Push notifications from multiple tenant servers

ABSTRACT

An indication is sent to a host server device. The indication includes a request for a push notification service identification (PNSID). The PNSID is used to establish a secure registration between one or more applications on the computing device of a user and the host server device. The PNSID is received from the host server device. An input is received from the user. The input includes one or more application server devices that may send push notifications to the computing device. A unique key is generated for each application server device. The PNSID and a different unique key are sent to each application server device. Each different unique key is associated with a different application server device. A registration is received from each application server device.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to the field of pushnotifications, and more particularly to receiving secure pushnotifications from multiple tenant servers.

A push notification is the delivery of a message from a softwareapplication provider to a computing device without a specific requestfrom the user of the computing device. An example push notificationmight be a weather alert sent to a smartphone based solely on thecurrent weather conditions in the area where the smartphone is located.Since there is no request from a user, push notifications originate fromthe server from which the push notification is sent. An advantage ofpush notifications is that the technology does not require any specificapplications to be open on the computing device in order to receive thepush notification. This advantage allows alerts, social media updates,and the like, to be received even when the computing device is lockedwith no open applications.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention include a method, computer programproduct, and system for receiving secure push notifications frommultiple tenant servers. In one embodiment, an indication is sent to ahost server device. The indication includes a request for a pushnotification service identification (PNSID). The PNSID is used toestablish a secure registration between one or more applications on thecomputing device of a user and the host server device. The PNSID isreceived from the host server device. An input is received from theuser. The input includes one or more application server devices that maysend push notifications to the computing device. A unique key isgenerated for each application server device. The PNSID and a differentunique key are sent to each application server device. Each differentunique key is associated with a different application server device. Aregistration is received from each application server device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a functional block diagram of a computing environment, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a program for generating one or moreunique keys as part of a registration process of one or more applicationserver devices, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 depicts a flowchart of a program for receiving a pushnotification, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;and

FIG. 4 depicts a block diagram of components of the computingenvironment of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide for receiving secure pushnotifications from multiple tenant servers. In a single tenantsituation, an application on a computing device establishes a secureregistration with a host server for the application and through thesecure registration, the host server for the application can push securenotifications to the computing device. The concept of multiple tenantsis that a single application on a computing device is hosted by a singleserver but that single application may receive push notifications frommultiple servers (or tenants) based in different locations. While asecure registration may be established with the host server for theapplication, no secure registration is established with the multipletenants. Consequently, unsecure push notifications may be received bythe smartphone from any of the multiple tenants or from another serverimitating one or more of the multiple tenants.

Embodiments of the present invention recognize that there may be amethod, computer program product, and computer system for receivingsecure push notifications from multiple tenant servers. The method,computer program product, and computer system may use a unique securitykey to differentiate multiple tenant servers from one another and todetermine that a push notification has been received from a legitimateserver.

The present invention will now be described in detail with reference tothe Figures.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a computingenvironment, generally designated 100, in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 1 provides only an illustration of oneimplementation and does not imply any limitations with regard to thesystems and environments in which different embodiments may beimplemented. Many modifications to the depicted embodiment may be madeby those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of theinvention as recited by the claims.

In an embodiment, computing environment 100 includes host server device120, application server device 130-1, application server device 130-2,application server device 130-N, and computing device 140 connected tonetwork 110. In example embodiments, computing environment 100 mayinclude other computing devices (not shown) such as smartwatches, cellphones, smartphones, wearable technology, phablets, tablet computers,laptop computers, desktop computers, other computer servers or any othercomputer system known in the art, interconnected with host server device120, application server device 130-1, application server device 130-2,application server device 130-N, and computing device 140 over network110.

In example embodiments, host server device 120, application serverdevice 130-1, application server device 130-2, application server device130-N, and computing device 140 may connect to network 110, whichenables host server device 120, application server device 130-1,application server device 130-2, application server device 130-N, andcomputing device 140 to access other computing devices and/or data notdirectly stored on host server device 120, application server device130-1, application server device 130-2, application server device 130-N,and/or computing device 140. Network 110 may be, for example, a localarea network (LAN), a telecommunications network, a wide area network(WAN) such as the Internet, or any combination of the three, and includewired, wireless, or fiber optic connections. Network 110 may include oneor more wired and/or wireless networks that are capable of receiving andtransmitting data, voice, and/or video signals, including multimediasignals that include voice, data, and video information. In general,network 110 can be any combination of connections and protocols thatwill support communications between host server device 120, applicationserver device 130-1, application server device 130-2, application serverdevice 130-N, and computing device 140, and any other computing devicesconnected to network 110, in accordance with embodiments of the presentinvention. In an embodiment, data received by another computing devicein computing environment 100 (not shown) may be communicated to hostserver device 120, application server device 130-1, application serverdevice 130-2, application server device 130-N, and computing device 140via network 110.

In embodiments of the present invention, host server device 120 may be alaptop, tablet, or netbook personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, apersonal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a standard cell phone, asmart-watch or any other wearable technology, or any other hand-held,programmable electronic device capable of communicating with any othercomputing device within computing environment 100. In certainembodiments, host server device 120 represents a computer systemutilizing clustered computers and components (e.g., database servercomputers, application server computers, etc.) that act as a single poolof seamless resources when accessed by elements of computing environment100. In general, host server device 120 is representative of anyelectronic device or combination of electronic devices capable ofexecuting computer readable program instructions. In an embodiment, hostserver device 120 functions to host and manage mobile applicationsoftware available for public download. Computing environment 100 mayinclude any number of host server device 120, application server device130-1, application server device 130-2, application server device 130-N,and computing device 140.

In an embodiment, application server device 130-1, application serverdevice 130-2, application server device 130-N, and computing device 140are substantially similar to host server device 120. Throughout thedocument, application server device 130-N will be used to reference thevarious instances of application server device 130-1, application serverdevice 130-2, and all other instances of application server device 130.In an embodiment, application server device 130-N hosts any number ofapplications that may interact with host server device 120 and computingdevice 140. Host server device 120, application server device 130-N, andcomputing device 140 may include components as depicted and described infurther detail with respect to FIG. 4, in accordance with embodiments ofthe present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, computing device140 is a computing device such as a smartphone or tablet computer. In anembodiment, computing device 140 includes application 142, informationrepository 144, and unique key program 146. According to embodiments ofthe present invention, application 142 may be a program, subprogram of alarger program, application, plurality of applications, or mobileapplication software that performs a function. A program is a sequenceof instructions written by a programmer to perform a specific task.Application 142 may run by itself but may be dependent on systemsoftware (not shown) to execute. In one embodiment, application 142functions as a stand-alone program residing on computing device 140. Inanother embodiment, application 142 may be included as a part of anoperating system (not shown) of computing device 140. In yet anotherembodiment, application 142 may work in conjunction with other programs,applications, etc., found on computing device 140 or in computingenvironment 100. In yet another embodiment, application 142 may be foundon other computing devices (not shown) in computing environment 100which are interconnected to computing device 140 via network 110.

According to embodiments of the present invention, informationrepository 144 may be storage that may be written to and/or read byunique key program 146. In one embodiment, information repository 144resides on computing device 140. In another embodiment, informationrepository 144 resides on host server device 120 or application serverdevice 130-N. In other embodiments, information repository 144 mayreside on any other device (not shown) in computing environment 100, incloud storage or on another computing device accessible via network 110.In yet another embodiment, information repository 144 may representmultiple storage devices within host server device 120, applicationserver device 130-N, and/or computing device 140.

In an embodiment, information repository 144 may be implemented usingany volatile or non-volatile storage media for storing information, asknown in the art. For example, information repository 144 may beimplemented with a tape library, optical library, one or moreindependent hard disk drives, multiple hard disk drives in a redundantarray of independent disks (RAID), solid-state drives (SSD), orrandom-access memory (RAM). Similarly, information repository 144 may beimplemented with any suitable storage architecture known in the art,such as a relational database, an object-oriented database, or one ormore tables. In an embodiment of the present invention, unique keyprogram 146 and any other programs and applications (not shown)operating on host server device 120 may store, read, modify, or writedata to information repository 144. Examples of data stored toinformation repository 144 include unique keys, also known as securitytokens, generated by unique key program 146 used by computing device 140and application 142 to receive push notifications from any number ofapplication server device 130-N.

According to embodiments of the present invention, unique key program146 may be a program, a subprogram of a larger program, an application,a plurality of applications, or mobile application software, whichfunctions to generate unique keys, which allows computing device 140 toreceive secure push notifications from multiple tenant servers. Aprogram is a sequence of instructions written by a programmer to performa specific task. Unique key program 146 may run by itself but may bedependent on system software (not shown) to execute. In one embodiment,unique key program 146 functions as a stand-alone program residing oncomputing device 140. In another embodiment, unique key program 146 maybe included as a part of host server device 120. In yet anotherembodiment, unique key program 146 may work in conjunction with otherprograms, applications, etc., found on computing device 140 or incomputing environment 100. In yet another embodiment, unique key program146 may be found on other computing devices (not shown) in computingenvironment 100, which are interconnected to computing device 140 vianetwork 110.

According to embodiments of the present invention, unique key program146 functions to generate unique keys, which allows computing device 140to receive secure push notifications from multiple tenant servers.According to an embodiment of the present invention, unique key program146 requests a push notification service identification (PNSID) fromhost server device 120, generates one or more unique keys for one ormore application server device 130-N, and sends the received PNSID andone of the one or more unique keys to one of the one or more applicationserver device 130-N to complete a registration of the one applicationserver device 130-N which allows computing device 140 to receive securepush notifications from the one application server device 130-N.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of workflow 200 depicting a method for generatingone or more unique keys as part of a registration process of one or moreapplication server devices. In one embodiment, the method of workflow200 is performed by unique key program 146. In an alternativeembodiment, the method of workflow 200 may be performed by any otherprogram working with unique key program 146. In an embodiment, a user,via a user interface (not shown), may invoke workflow 200 upondownloading an application to a computing device. In an alternativeembodiment, a user may invoke workflow 200 upon accessing unique keyprogram 146.

In an embodiment, unique key program 146 receives a notification (step202). In other words, unique key program 146 receives a notificationfrom a computing device that a user has installed one or moreapplications on the computing device. In an embodiment, unique keyprogram 146 receives a notification from computing device 140 that auser has installed application 142 on computing device 140. For example,“Joe” has installed a personal finance application (or app) on asmartphone owned by “Joe”.

In an embodiment, unique key program 146 sends a request (step 204). Inother words, unique key program 146 sends a request to the serverhosting a downloadable variant of the installed one or more applicationsfor a push notification service identification (PNSID). In anembodiment, the downloadable variant of an application is the userversion of the application that a user may download and install on thecomputing device of the user. In an embodiment, a PNSID establishes asecure registration between the computing device, and one or moreapplications on the computing device, requesting the PNSID and a serverhosting the downloadable variant of the one or more applications.According to an embodiment of the present invention, unique key program146, on computing device 140, sends a request for a PNSID to host serverdevice 120, which is hosting a variant of application 142 available forpublic downloading. For example, “Joe” requests a PNSID from the serverwhere “Joe” downloaded the personal finance app.

In an embodiment, unique key program 146 receives a PNSID (step 206). Inother words, unique key program 146 receives the requested PNSID fromthe server to which unique key program 146 sent the request. In anembodiment, unique key program 146 receives a PNSID from host serverdevice 120. For example, the smartphone owned by “Joe” receives thePNSID “XYZ” from the server where “Joe” downloaded the personal financeapp.

In an embodiment, unique key program 146 stores the PNSID (step 208). Inother words, unique key program 146 stores the received PNSID to arepository for later use as needed. In an embodiment, unique key program146 stores the received PNSID to information repository 144 on computingdevice 140. For example, “Joe” stores the PNSID “XYZ” to the memory onthe smartphone owned by “Joe”.

In an embodiment, unique key program 146 receives an input (step 210).In other words, unique key program 146 receives an input from a userthat indicates one or more application servers that may send pushnotifications, based on the one or more installed applications, to theuser. In an embodiment, the one or more application server device 130-Nmay host any number of functions that may interact with application 142on computing device 140. In an embodiment, unique key program 146receives an input from a user indicating that application 142 mayinteract with one or more application server device 130-N. For example,“Joe” indicates that the personal finance app downloaded to thesmartphone owned by “Joe” may interact with three different applicationservers—the first is a server managed by a credit union used by “Joe”,the second is a server managed by a discount broker used by “Joe”, andthe third is a server managed by a fee-only financial planner used by“Joe”.

In an embodiment, unique key program 146 generates the unique keys (step212). In other words, based on the application servers indicated by theuser (step 210), unique key program 146 generates unique keys for eachindicated application server. In an embodiment, each unique key isspecific to only one application server and will be required by theissuing computing device in order to receive push notifications from thespecific application server. In an embodiment, unique key program 146generates a unique key for each application server device 130-Nindicated by the user. For example, “Joe” requires three uniquekeys—unique key “A” for the credit union used by “Joe”, unique key “B”for the discount broker used by “Joe”, and unique key “C” for thefee-only financial planner used by “Joe”.

In an embodiment, unique key program 146 stores the unique keys (step214). In other words, unique key program 146 stores the one or moregenerated unique keys to a repository for later use as needed. In anembodiment, unique key program 146 stores the one or more generatedunique keys to information repository 144 on computing device 140. Forexample, “Joe” stores the three generated unique keys to the memory onthe smartphone owned by “Joe”.

In an embodiment, unique key program 146 sends the PNSID and a uniquekey (step 216). In other words, unique key program 146 sends the PNSIDand one of the one or more unique keys to each application serverindicated by the user. In an embodiment, the association between eachunique key and the application server each unique key is sent to issaved to information repository 144 by unique key program 146. In anembodiment, unique key program 146 sends the received PNSID and one ofthe one or more generated unique keys to each of the application serverdevice 130-N indicated by the user. In the embodiment, the PNSID and theunique key specific to application server device 130-N is sent by uniquekey program 146 to application server device 130-N. For example, “Joe”sends the following: the PNSID “XYZ” and unique key “A” to the creditunion used by “Joe”, the PNSID “XYZ” and unique key “B” to the discountbroker used by “Joe”, and the PNSID “XYZ” and unique key “C” to thefee-only financial planner used by “Joe”.

In an embodiment, unique key program 146 receives a registration (step218). In other words, unique key program 146 receives, from eachapplication server device indicated by the user, a registration, whichallows push notifications to be sent from each application server deviceto the computing device that sent the PNSID and the unique key. In anembodiment, unique key program 146 receives a registration from eachapplication server device 130-N that received the PNSID and a uniquekey. In the embodiment, each application server device 130-N includesthe unique key the application server device 130-N received in theregistration, which confirms to unique key program 146 that theapplication server device 130-N is approved to send push notificationsto the computing device. According to an embodiment of the presentinvention, each push notification sent by an application server device130-N will include the specific unique key sent to the applicationserver device 130-N in the push notification to confirm the registrationof the application server device 130-N to unique key program 146 oncomputing device 140. For example, the smartphone owned by “Joe”receives the following three registrations: a registration from thecredit union used by “Joe” (which includes unique key “A”), aregistration from the discount broker used by “Joe” (which includesunique key “B”), and a registration from the fee-only personal financialadvisor used by “Joe” (which includes unique key “C”). In the example,all push notifications sent by the discount broker used by “Joe” willinclude unique key “B” which will confirm the registration of thediscount broker to the smartphone owned by “Joe” and will allow the pushnotification from the discount broker to be displayed on the smartphoneowned by “Joe”. In a similar manner, all push notifications sent fromthe credit union used by “Joe” will include unique key “A” and all pushnotification sent from the fee-only financial planner used by “Joe” willinclude unique key “C”.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of workflow 300 depicting a method for receiving apush notification. In one embodiment, the method of workflow 300 isperformed by unique key program 146. In an alternative embodiment, themethod of workflow 300 may be performed by any other program workingwith unique key program 146. In an embodiment, a user, via a userinterface (not shown), may invoke workflow 300 upon receiving a pushnotification. In an alternative embodiment, a user may invoke workflow300 upon accessing unique key program 146.

In an embodiment, unique key program 146 receives a notification (step302). In other words, unique key program 146 receives a notificationthat a push notification has been received on a computing device. In anembodiment, unique key program 146 on computing device 140 has receiveda notification that a push notification was received by computing device140. For example, the smartphone owned by “Joe” receives a pushnotification from the fee-only financial planner used by “Joe”.

In an embodiment, unique key program 146 determines whether a matchexists (decision step 304). In other words, unique key program 146determines whether the key, included in the push notification (i.e. apush notification key) from an application server device, matches theunique key, stored to a repository, which was sent to the applicationserver device by unique key program 146 during the registration process.In an embodiment, the determination is made by comparing the pushnotification key to the unique key sent to the application serverdevice. In an embodiment (decision step 304, YES branch), the pushnotification key, included in the push notification from an applicationserver device, does match the unique key, stored to a repository, whichwas sent to the application server device by unique key program 146during the registration process; therefore, unique key program 146proceeds to step 306. In the embodiment (decision step 304, NO branch),the push notification key, included in the push notification from anapplication server device, does not match the unique key, stored to arepository, which was sent to the application server device by uniquekey program 146 during the registration process; therefore, unique keyprogram 146 proceeds to step 308.

In an embodiment, unique key program 146 accepts a push notification(step 306). In other words, responsive to determining that the pushnotification key, included in the push notification from an applicationserver device, does match the unique key, stored to a repository, whichwas sent to the application server device by unique key program 146during the registration process, unique key program 146 accepts the pushnotification. In an embodiment, unique key program 146 on computingdevice 140 determines that the push notification key and the unique keymatch and unique key program 146 displays the push notification oncomputing device 140. For example, the smartphone owned by “Joe”displays the push notification received from the fee-only financialplanner used by “Joe”.

In an embodiment, unique key program 146 rejects a push notification(step 308). In other words, responsive to determining that the pushnotification key, included in the push notification from an applicationserver device, does not match the unique key, stored to a repository,which was sent to the application server device by unique key program146 during the registration process, unique key program 146 rejects thepush notification and sends an alert to the computing device that thereceived push notification was rejected. In an embodiment, unique keyprogram 146 on computing device 140 determines that the pushnotification key and the unique key do not match and unique key program146 rejects the push notification on computing device 140 and sends analert to computing device 140 that the push notification was rejected.For example, the smartphone owned by “Joe” does not display the pushnotification received from the fee-only financial planner used by “Joe”and the smartphone owned by “Joe” receives an alert that a pushnotification received from the fee-only financial planner used by “Joe”was rejected.

FIG. 4 depicts computer system 400, which is an example of a system thatincludes unique key program 146. Computer system 400 includes processors401, cache 403, memory 402, persistent storage 405, communications unit407, input/output (I/O) interface(s) 406 and communications fabric 404.Communications fabric 404 provides communications between cache 403,memory 402, persistent storage 405, communications unit 407, andinput/output (I/O) interface(s) 406. Communications fabric 404 can beimplemented with any architecture designed for passing data and/orcontrol information between processors (such as microprocessors,communications and network processors, etc.), system memory, peripheraldevices, and any other hardware components within a system. For example,communications fabric 404 can be implemented with one or more buses or acrossbar switch.

Memory 402 and persistent storage 405 are computer readable storagemedia. In this embodiment, memory 402 includes random access memory(RAM). In general, memory 402 can include any suitable volatile ornon-volatile computer readable storage media. Cache 403 is a fast memorythat enhances the performance of processors 401 by holding recentlyaccessed data, and data near recently accessed data, from memory 402.

Program instructions and data used to practice embodiments of thepresent invention may be stored in persistent storage 405 and in memory402 for execution by one or more of the respective processors 401 viacache 403. In an embodiment, persistent storage 405 includes a magnetichard disk drive. Alternatively, or in addition to a magnetic hard diskdrive, persistent storage 405 can include a solid state hard drive, asemiconductor storage device, read-only memory (ROM), erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, or any othercomputer readable storage media that is capable of storing programinstructions or digital information.

The media used by persistent storage 405 may also be removable. Forexample, a removable hard drive may be used for persistent storage 405.Other examples include optical and magnetic disks, thumb drives, andsmart cards that are inserted into a drive for transfer onto anothercomputer readable storage medium that is also part of persistent storage405.

Communications unit 407, in these examples, provides for communicationswith other data processing systems or devices. In these examples,communications unit 407 includes one or more network interface cards.Communications unit 407 may provide communications through the use ofeither or both physical and wireless communications links. Programinstructions and data used to practice embodiments of the presentinvention may be downloaded to persistent storage 405 throughcommunications unit 407.

I/O interface(s) 406 allows for input and output of data with otherdevices that may be connected to each computer system. For example, I/Ointerface 406 may provide a connection to external devices 408 such as akeyboard, keypad, a touch screen, and/or some other suitable inputdevice. External devices 408 can also include portable computer readablestorage media such as, for example, thumb drives, portable optical ormagnetic disks, and memory cards. Software and data used to practiceembodiments of the present invention can be stored on such portablecomputer readable storage media and can be loaded onto persistentstorage 405 via I/O interface(s) 406. I/O interface(s) 406 also connectto display 409.

Display 409 provides a mechanism to display data to a user and may be,for example, a computer monitor.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

The programs described herein are identified based upon the applicationfor which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of theinvention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular programnomenclature herein is used merely for convenience, and thus theinvention should not be limited to use solely in any specificapplication identified and/or implied by such nomenclature.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, the method comprising: responsive to auser installing a downloadable variant of an application, receiving, byone or more computer processors, a registration from each applicationserver device of one or more application server devices authorized by auser to send one or more push notifications; generating, by one or morecomputer processors, a unique key for each application server device ofone or more application server devices able to send the one or more pushnotifications to a computing device of the user; sending, by one or morecomputer processors, a push notification service identification (PNSID)and a first unique key of the one or more generated unique keys to afirst application server device of the one or more application serverdevices, wherein the first unique key is associated with the firstapplication server device; receiving, by one or more computerprocessors, a push notification that includes a push notification keyfrom the first application server device; determining, by one or morecomputer processors, whether the push notification key matches the firstunique key sent to the first application server device; and responsiveto determining that the push notification key, received from the firstapplication server device, does not match the first unique key sent tothe first application server device, rejecting, by one or more computerprocessors, the received push notification.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising: storing, by one or more computer processors, thePNSID to an information repository; and storing, by one or more computerprocessors, the generated unique key for each application server deviceof the one or more application server devices to the informationrepository.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: responsive todetermining that the push notification key does match the first uniquekey sent to the first application server device, accepting, by one ormore computer processors, the received push notification.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein the determination of whether the push notificationkey received from the first application server device and the firstunique key sent to the first application server device match isdetermined by comparing the push notification key to the first uniquekey sent to the first application server device.
 5. The method of claim3, further comprising: responsive to accepting the received pushnotification, displaying, by one or more computer processors, theaccepted push notification, wherein the accepted push notification isdisplayed on the computing device of the user.
 6. The method of claim 1,further comprising: sending, by one or more computer processors, analert to the user that the received push notification was rejected.
 7. Acomputer program product, the computer program product comprising: oneor more computer readable storage media; and program instructions storedon the one or more computer readable storage media, the programinstructions comprising: program instructions to responsive to a userinstalling a downloadable variant of an application, receive aregistration from each application server device of one or moreapplication server devices authorized by a user to send one or more pushnotifications; program instructions to generate a unique key for eachapplication server device of one or more application server devices ableto send the one or more push notifications to a computing device of theuser; program instructions to send a push notification serviceidentification (PNSID) and a first unique key of the one or moregenerated unique keys to a first application server device of the one ormore application server devices, wherein the first unique key isassociated with the first application server device; programinstructions to receive a push notification that includes a pushnotification key from the first application server device; programinstructions to determine whether the push notification key matches thefirst unique key sent to the first application server device; andprogram instructions to, responsive to determining that the pushnotification key, received from the first application server device,does not match the first unique key sent to the first application serverdevice, reject the received push notification.
 8. The computer programproduct of claim 7, further comprising program instructions stored onthe one or more computer readable storage media, to: store the PNSID toan information repository; and store the generated unique key for eachapplication server device of the one or more application server devicesto the information repository.
 9. The computer program product of claim7, further comprising program instructions stored on the one or morecomputer readable storage media, to: responsive to determining that thepush notification key does match the first unique key sent to the firstapplication server device, accept the received push notification. 10.The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the determination ofwhether the push notification key received from the first applicationserver device and the first unique key sent to the first applicationserver device match is determined by comparing the push notification keyto the first unique key sent to the first application server device. 11.The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising programinstructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media,to: responsive to accepting the received push notification, display theaccepted push notification, wherein the accepted push notification isdisplayed on the computing device of the user.
 12. The computer programproduct of claim 7, further comprising program instructions stored onthe one or more computer readable storage media, to: send an alert tothe user that the received push notification was rejected.
 13. Acomputer system, the computer system comprising: one or more computerprocessors; one or more computer readable storage media; and programinstructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage mediafor execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors,the program instructions comprising: program instructions to responsiveto a user installing a downloadable variant of an application, receive aregistration from each application server device of one or moreapplication server devices authorized by a user to send one or more pushnotifications; program instructions to generate a unique key for eachapplication server device of one or more application server devices ableto send the one or more push notifications to a computing device of theuser; program instructions to send a push notification serviceidentification (PNSID) and a first unique key of the one or moregenerated unique keys to a first application server device of the one ormore application server devices, wherein the first unique key isassociated with the first application server device; and the PNSIDestablishes a secure registration between the computing device, one ormore applications on the computing device requesting the PNSID, and aserver hosting a downloadable variant of one or more applications;program instructions to receive a push notification that includes a pushnotification key from the first application server device; programinstructions to determine whether the push notification key matches thefirst unique key sent to the first application server device; andprogram instructions to, responsive to determining that the pushnotification key, received from the first application server device,does not match the first unique key sent to the first application serverdevice, reject the received push notification and send an alert to thecomputing device indicating that the push notification was rejected. 14.The computer system of claim 13, further comprising program instructionsstored on the one or more computer readable storage media for executionby at least one of the one or more computer processors, to: store thePNSID to an information repository; and store the generated unique keyfor each application server device of the one or more application serverdevices to the information repository.
 15. The computer system of claim13, further comprising program instructions stored on the one or morecomputer readable storage media for execution by at least one of the oneor more computer processors, to: responsive to determining that the pushnotification key does match the first unique key sent to the firstapplication server device, accept the received push notification. 16.The computer system of claim 13, wherein the determination of whetherthe push notification key received from the first application serverdevice and the first unique key sent to the first application serverdevice match is determined by comparing the push notification key to thefirst unique key sent to the first application server device.
 17. Thecomputer system of claim 15, further comprising program instructionsstored on the one or more computer readable storage media for executionby at least one of the one or more computer processors, to: responsiveto accepting the received push notification, display the accepted pushnotification, wherein the accepted push notification is displayed on thecomputing device of the user.